Hallelujah! (Or Words to That Effect)

Living on a fixed income is always a lesson in manipulation.  The whole "fixed income" thing is probably misunderstood.  When I was still teaching, my income was a fixed salary that changed according to a salary scale every year.  But being on a pension in retirement, and somewhat disabled, is a whole other animal.  Before retirement, I made enough that I didn't have to worry about too much, and when my daughter and grandchildren lived with me, our combined incomes stood us in good stead.  She paid her way in spades.  And then I retired and she and the children moved out.

So here I am, managing on my own.  My pension comes in on the first of each month; my Social Security comes in on the second Wednesday of each month.  I have it down to a pretty fine science to know what bills to pay out of which pay period, and it usually works, but sometimes things happen that throw things off.  This month was one of those.

A couple of weeks ago, on one of my few excursions out, I was backing out of my drive--not even to the end of the drive yet--when I felt the brake pedal go all the way down to the floor.  Oops!  I crept back up the driveway and decided I wouldn't be going anywhere.  I had a Valentine package to send to my daughter/grandchildren and needed to run to the store.  Thankfully, my Helper James came to the rescue.  He took me to the post office, the grocery...and drove my car (without brakes) to my car repair place of choice.  (The story is actually a little more complicated than that, but that's the simplified version.)  Because of timing and circumstances, I didn't get the car back for five days, but since I was already stocked with food and necessities, it was okay.  The brake bill, plus a couple of other repair things came to $500 of money I had not anticipated.  Also unanticipated was a $42 bill for my meds which were previously no charge.  (Have to look into that.)

Then, too, because of the whole cold/snow thing, my gas and electric bills were higher than usual.  More money that I didn't anticipate having to spend. 

And so it goes every month.  I pay the mortgage and buy groceries at the beginning of the month.  The utilities come out on the middle of the month, and whatever is left is what I live on. Thus, saying that there is "too much month left at the end of the money" is often true.  (I suspect it is that way with everyone!)

So here I am...savings depleted due to car repairs and money very, very close to the end of the black category...knowing that I only have two more days to survive until my pension comes through...and suddenly the heavens open and angels sing.  Hallelujah!  Glory to God in the highest--my federal tax return showed up in my bank account!  Saved by Uncle Sam!

Things are not as austere as they sound, but I have to be careful with my funds.  For the past two months, I've had to limit my expenditures (which were already limited by the weather) to get by.
But right now, I will live to see another day, financially.  Hallelujah!